Baton Rouge -- Part of the adjustment of going from high school star to college freshman on the football field usually involves some time on special teams.

Chris Granger/The Times-PicayuneLSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had 41 receptions for 475 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman last season and will add punt and kickoff return duties to his duties this season.

While that may seem like the grid-iron equivalent of hazing from the outside, at LSU, landing a spot on special team units has become a badge of honor for players going through their first season.

So when Tyrann Mathieu was suddenly dismissed from the team on Aug. 10 - opening not only two key jobs on defense, but several on special teams as well - the first two players who offered to step in were Landry and Beckham.

That those two are projected to be LSU's starting receivers might make their spots as punt and kickoff returners seem a little risky.

But the sophomore playmakers wouldn't have it any other way.

"When you first get here, young guys come in and you get a chance to play on special teams and you have to make the best of it," said Beckham, who returned nine punts for an 8.6-yard average last season and five kickoffs for 24 yards a try.

"Now, we're a year older and we want to be out there in those roles because we know how important it is."

Landry embraced that idea last season after a herky-jerky start to his freshman season.

Slowed by a foot injury early in camp, Landry got on the field on several special team units and admits that he didn't take on the challenge with the best mindset.

By mid-season, though, Landry was excelling, particularly as a gunner who specialized in blowing up return men before they got too far downfield.

This season the former Lutcher star might get more of a chance in the glory positions - he's the frontrunner to return punts - and he's champing at the bit.

"That part of the game is something we all did in high school and now we get the chance to use our talents in the open field," Landry said. "I think my ability to get vertical, read blocks and make big plays is why I'm going to be out there."

Associated PressJarvis Landry cut his special teams teeth in 2011 making plays like this one where he demolished Auburn's kickoff return man. That helped the former Lutcher star embrace playing on the kicking teams and he'll be a big player in that role this season.

It also doesn't hurt his cause that he'll likely remain in spots to either pursue ball carriers or clear paths for his running mate.

Whatever the role, though, there's no doubt Landry is now a true believer when it comes to special teams.

"When they kick it to Odell on kickoffs, I'll still get the chance to clean some guys up," Landry said with a smile.

"I think special teams are the most important part of the game. It's not very often a team has a punter who can change field position, a kicker who can kick it out of the end zone and return guys who are dangerous every time they get the ball in their hands."

While Landry and Beckham bring some new blood to the return games, the players put their feet to the ball are familiar faces.

Drew Alleman is back for his second season as the placekicker, James Hairston will handle the kickoff duties after taking over that role midway through last season and Brad Wing is back as the punter. During the Tigers' impressive 2011 run to an undefeated regular season, Wing and Alleman played a major part.

Wing was arguably the country's best punter, averaging 44.4 yards a kick with 20 over 50 yards, 23 downed inside the 20-yard-line and 13 inside the 10. Foes managed only 73 return yards all season long.

LSUsports.netDrew Alleman

Alleman was nearly automatic, connecting on 16-of-18 field goals with four against Mississippi State in a hard-fought defensive struggle and three vs. Alabama in the regular season, the last in overtime for the game-winner.

Other than their value to the team, Wing and Alleman couldn't be more different.

The quirky and personable Wing is an Australian native who carved a niche as a trash-talking, cocky punter - even drawing the only celebration penalty in the country that wiped out a touchdown last season.

Kicking for a team that was usually in cruise control by the second half, Alleman was much further off the radar to the point of being almost boring compared to his fun-loving, media-favorite punting partner.

"I'm a low-key guy, so I'm not as popular and that's absolutely fine with me," Alleman said with a chuckle. "I just go out there and do my job, and really, when you're a kicker, if you do that you're not supposed to be noticed."

There's still a chance Alleman could make a bit of a splash before he's gone.

LSUsports.netBrad Wing

The last two LSU kickers have had a fake field goal called and both executed - Colt David for a 15-yard touchdown run in 2007 and Josh Jasper for a pivotal 5-yard run for a first down to set up the game-winning TD in a 33-29 win at Florida in 2010.

Like those two, Alleman is a former soccer player, so he has more athletic ability than a typical kicker.

"When the time comes, we'll see what happens," Alleman said coyly. "I mean, we're specialists. We're skilled athletes. So you never know what could happen."